To Be a Hero {SBI Fantasy AU}

16. Old Memories

Exhausted, upset, and in some cases mildly burnt, the adventurers chose to set up camp close to the cave. Theoretically, the spider would've taken out most of the dangerous things in the area before building a web, so they should be safe. Tommy could definitely imagine the giant monster plowing through anything that moved in the area. The decision was mostly motivated by exhaustion and convenience rather than logic but it made them feel better nevertheless. 

Flopping down on the grass with a massive sigh, he exclaimed, "What're we gonna do about a DRAGON!" Sitting up and continuing with wild hand motions, "It's HUGE! How are we gonna fight something that's the size of a house?"

"I'd rather fight a house. At least I can set that on fire." Tubbo muttered, flopping down beside his best friend, "I don't even know how to start the letter."

"It's alright, me and Techno will deal with it, you two can start the fire while we do a quick check of the perimeter," Philza said with a smile. 

"Heh?" Technoblade muttered ,"Why did you rope me into this? And why are these two pyromaniacs in charge of starting the fire?"

"They'll be fine, we'll be back in a few minutes anyway." Philza replied. The berserker didn't look entirely convinced, but he went along with it. As he left, he shot Wilbur a knowing glance, to which the bard to grumbled under his breath about "not being a babysitter". 

Tommy didn't really bother with deciphering whatever that meant, so instead he focused on the fire. Clearing a small area of leaf litter and other debris, he and Tubbo worked to collect stones to line their fire pit. Luckily for them, there was already a lot of dried grass and sticks nearby for them to use. Well, it wasn't entirely luck. A lot of it was probably a result of the battle they had with the spider, but it was nice to pretend that luck was on their side for once.

"Looks like we're done with the campfire," the bard stated, "all we have to do now is wait for Philza to come back with the flint and steel."

Tubbo mused, "I'm sure it'll be fine if we just light it ourselves, right?"

"Wha-" Wilbur sputtered, "No, that's a terrible idea! You're going to end up lighting the entire forest on fire!"

Tommy scoffed, "He's a mage, he knows what he's doing, am I right big man?"

"Yeah," the mage agreed, already pulling out his spellbook, "It'll be fine, Wilbur! How can we go wrong with a simple fire spell?"

Apparently, the answer was that things can go very, very wrong.

"AAAAAA" the squire screeched, "WHY IS THE GRASS ON FIRE??? AND WHY IS IT GROWLING AT ME???"

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?" Wilbur frantically attempted to stomp out the funky flame which was now actively screeching at them.

The young mage desperately flipped through his grimoire as Tommy tried to beat the living fire with a stick. Evidently, that was definitely not what he was supposed to do because the flames reached up and chomped onto his stick with tiny flickering teeth.

"AUUUGH! ITS GOT ME, TUBBO, ITS GOT ME!" he screamed.

Tubbo apparently found the right spell or something, because he was suddenly doused in a torrent of water. Opening his eyes, he was relieved to see that the little fire monster was no longer climbing up the smoldering stick he held in his hands. 

By then the other two had returned, presumably to check out why they were screaming at the top of their lungs. The three of them were quite a sight, a slightly smoldering bard, a drenched squire and a disgruntled mage desperately trying to stamp out the embers on the edge of his cloak.